Tory leader’s tweets ‘brought Senedd into disrepute’

Published

3 months ago

October 31, 2024

THE LEADER of the Conservative opposition broke Senedd rules by incorrectly describing 20mph as a blanket policy, a committee concluded.

Andrew RT Davies was found to have brought the Welsh Parliament into disrepute after calling the default speed limit a “blanket” policy on social media.

The tweet, posted just days after a ruling that the phrase was “imprecise and inaccurate”, read: “Another bus route cut thanks to Labour and Plaid’s blanket 20mph speed limits.”

An investigation by Douglas Bain, the Senedd’s standards commissioner, concluded Mr Davies breached the code of conduct by continuing to use the term.

But the Conservative was cleared of breaking rules around honesty, with Mr Bain saying: “I am satisfied that it was not his intention to deceive anyone.”

He explained that untruthfulness requires an element of deceit, fraud or moral turpitude.

Mr Davies, who has led the Welsh Tories in two stints since 2011, will be formally “censured”, which amounts to a slap on the wrists, in the Senedd on November 6.

The politician admitted he was aware of the standards committee’s conclusion that depicting the default speed limit as a blanket policy was imprecise and inaccurate.

Mr Davies argued he was entitled to use the phrase under Article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

But Mr Bain ruled: “When he posted the tweet the member knew – or ought to have known that – although it was not untruthful or dishonest, it was false.

“It was not protected by the enhanced protection afforded to politicians.”

Mr Davies, who undertook not to use the term “blanket” until the complaint had been dealt with, asserted the descriptor should, at worst, be tolerated as an “inaccurate exaggeration”.

In February, Shaun Haggerty complained to the commissioner, criticising Mr Davies for “continuing to falsely use the term”, prompting the investigation.

And, in a report that followed on October 30, the commissioner found Mr Davies breached rules one (leadership principle) and two (bringing the Senedd into disrepute) of the code.

Mr Bain, who was appointed in 2021 after serving as acting commissioner, said it was incumbent on the leader of the opposition to set a good example.

He wrote: “I am satisfied that when he posted the tweet the member knew or ought to have known that it was ‘imprecise and inaccurate’ and so false.

“By ignoring the committee’s admonition and the guidance given … he failed to give the leadership required of him.”

Mr Davies was also investigated following a separate complaint, submitted by Anthony Jones in April, similarly centred on social media posts.

The tweet stated: “Vaughan Gething’s Labour government is embracing the same extreme ideology as its predecessor. Nothing has changed.”

Below was a picture, from the ‘Guido Fawkes’ political blog, of the ex-first minister and a pregnant woman, captioned: “Welsh Government press release celebrates ‘birthing people’.”

The complainant described the post as a “blatant lie”, warning that it was misleading and dangerous, with the Welsh Government confirming no such press release was issued.

Mr Davies pointed out that a ministerial statement on April 26 referred to ‘birthing people’ as he again argued he was exercising his right to freedom of expression.

Interviewed under oath, Mr Davies told the commissioner Mr Jones had “serially complained” about his conduct, with four other complaints since 2023.

But Mr Bain did not consider any of the four complaints vexatious and was not satisfied with an explanation that the text had been copied from ‘Guido Fawkes’.

“I am clear that is irrelevant,” he wrote in his report.

“Members are fully responsible for any quotation they choose to include in a tweet … that has been made clear to members repeatedly.”

Mr Bain pointed out that guidance on the code of conduct states Senedd members are expected to reasonably fact check and verify their assertions.

He said: “As a former member of the standards of conduct committee, I consider it inconceivable that he was not aware of that.”

The commissioner asked whether Mr Davies accepted that a politician knowingly making a false or misleading statement would be likely to bring the Senedd into disrepute.

He replied: “If someone deliberately did that, of course, that would be a case of bringing the Senedd into disrepute. But I don’t accept that in this case one iota.”

Mr Davies described press releases and ministerial statements as synonymous but Mr Bain did not accept this, saying there is a clear distinction.

He wrote: “Whilst I have no doubt the member’s tweet … was incorrect and potentially misleading, I am not satisfied on the evidence it can be found to have been untruthful.”

However, Mr Davies was again found to have brought the Senedd into disrepute.

The commissioner said: “I am satisfied that the member made no attempt to check the accuracy of the text from ‘Guido Fawkes’ that he copied into his tweet.”

Mr Davies was offered an opportunity to comment.

Senedd ‘sidelined’ by Westminster water bill

Published

12 hours ago

January 22, 2025

Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter

The Senedd signed off on proposed UK legislation to regulate the water industry despite concerns about the Welsh Parliament being “sidelined” by Westminster

Senedd members voted to consent to the UK water (special measures) bill, which aims to address governance issues and poor performance from water companies on pollution.

But Llŷr Gruffydd, who chairs the climate change committee, said the Senedd was “at the mercy” of the UK Government, with time for scrutiny curtailed.

Mr Gruffydd warned of a “huge” increase in Westminster legislation in devolved areas, saying: “I know ministers in the Welsh Government believe it is appropriate in many cases.

“It might be possible to defend their position if the system worked but it does not, which, in my opinion, undermines the position of the government.”

‘Sidelined’

The Plaid Cymru politician said Huw Irranca-Davies, the deputy first minister, is well aware of the shortcomings of a legislative consent process he is now using so enthusiastically.

He pointed out that Welsh Water operates a different ownership model to water companies in England, saying governance proposals must suit Wales’ circumstances.

Mr Gruffydd, who represents North Wales, said the funds generated by fines levied on companies should stay in Wales to improve services and infrastructure.

Labour’s Mike Hedges, chair of the legislation committee, warned the Senedd was being “sidelined” and the legislative consent motion was “at odds” with ministers’ aims.

He said the Welsh Government’s 2015 water strategy stated the objective was to align regulatory boundaries for water and sewage with the Wales-England border.

‘Piggybacking’

Mr Hedges told the Senedd: “Elected Members of the Senedd are being prevented from having a full say on legislation affecting rivers through their constituencies.

“While MPs in England will be able to table amendments to the bill on matters that affect Welsh rivers, Members of the Senedd are being denied that opportunity.

“Overall, the evidence provided by the Welsh Government to support this approach to using a UK Government bill to legislate for Wales has not been persuasive.”

Mr Hedges, who represents Swansea East, warned the case for piggybacking on a UK bill was weak, with decisions taken too quickly and potentially not fully thought through.

He described the process as an unsatisfactory and regrettable way of making law for Wales.

‘Chaotic’

Janet Finch-Saunders said the Conservatives would support the motion, with more accountability required in light of the “chaotic” response to the Conwy water crisis.

The Aberconwy Senedd member welcomed powers in the bill to restrict bonuses paid to executives where water companies fail to meet required standards.

Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell agreed the bill could strengthen efforts to reduce water pollution, particularly by enhancing the powers of regulators such as Ofwat.

Her party colleague Adam Price derided an insistence that water is inherently a cross-border issue, pointing out that many rivers and tributaries cross European borders.

Mr Price urged Welsh ministers to grasp powers – set out in the St David’s Day agreement on devolution which led to the 2017 Wales Act – to give the Senedd full control over water.

‘Lasting change’

Mr Irranca-Davies, who is climate change secretary, stressed that what happens upstream in England affects what happens downstream in Wales, and vice versa.

He said: “That means in order to make real and lasting change we must work together,” pointing out that Ofwat and the Drinking Water Inspectorate cover Wales and England.

He explained the bill will strengthen the regulator’s powers to address water pollution, limit bonuses and allow Natural Resources Wales to recover costs from water companies.

The deputy first minister added: “It is absolutely right to ensure that implementation is done in the best way for Wales, some of the measures … are likely to proceed differently.”

The Senedd voted 37-0 in favour of the legislative consent motion, with 10 Plaid Cymru members abstaining, following the debate on January 21.

Calls for ban on lying in Senedd by end of the year

Published

2 days ago

January 21, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A LOCAL politician has called on the Welsh Government to ban politicians from lying in the Senedd.

Speaking in the Senedd on Tuesday, Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds MS called on the First Minister Eluned Morgan to confirm that legislation on political deception will be passed this year.

Last summer, Jane Dodds MS voted in favour of a motion which would make it an offence for a Senedd member, or a candidate for election to the Senedd, to wilfully or with intent to mislead make or publish a statement that is known to be false or deceptive.

The Welsh Government has previously committed towards making lying in Welsh politics an offence.

According to data from the Veracity Index, in 2024 only 9% of the public trusted politicians to tell the truth-the lowest score in forty years.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have backed plans to ban lying in the Senedd, as part of their pledge to clean up Welsh politics.

Commenting on the need to restore trust back into Welsh politics, Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds said that “we need to counter the rise of misinformation and its damaging consequences.”

We need to look no further than the event of last summer, where misinformation spread by elected officials led to riots that left lasting damages on countless communities.

Mistruths and lying can and have had a devastating impact on the lives of millions of people, which is why we must act now.

We can no longer tolerate the hijacking of our political system by mistruths and deception, We have return power back to voters.

The stakes have never been higher and the Welsh Government cannot afford to sit by and watch as public trust in our democratic institutions continues to erode away. “

News

Ex-FM declares interest amid calls for crackdown on political donations

Published

2 days ago

January 21, 2025

Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter

VAUGHAN GETHING declared an interest as the Senedd’s petitions committee discussed calls for a crackdown on donations to politicians.

The former first minister made the declaration as the committee considered a petition calling for stricter rules to limit gifts, donations and payments received by Senedd members

Mr Gething, who broke no rules, stood down in August amid controversy around a £200,000 donation to his Welsh Labour leadership campaign from a convicted polluter.

During the declaration of interest section of Monday’s meeting, he said: “I don’t think I have a declaration of interest but the petitioner, I think, is talking about me in part of it.”

In her 343-name petition, Lyn Eynon wrote: “There has been wide public concern over large donations given to a prominent Member of the Senedd. Lessons must be learnt from this.

“Wales must preserve and enhance its reputation for transparency and integrity.

“All MSs have a duty to ensure that no conflict arises, or appears to arise, between their public duties and their private interests.”

Senedd members agreed to keep the petition open while the standards committee concludes its inquiry into the registration and declaration of interests.

Mr Gething wrote to the standards committee in May, acknowledging concerns and calling for a review of the rules on donations made to Senedd members.

The standards committee – which is now chaired by Hannah Blythyn, who was sacked by Mr Gething amid claims of leaking – is expected to continue this work in the summer term.

Mr Gething also drew the committee’s attention to a petition on Covid-19 vaccine side effects, pointing out he was health minister at the start of the vaccination programme.

While the petition met the 10,000-name threshold to be considered for a Senedd debate, committee members agreed to close the petition submitted by Alison Butler.

Rhys ab Owen, an independent member of the petitions committee, pointed out that module four of the UK Covid inquiry will consider and make recommendations on vaccines.

He said: “I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to have any debate in the Senedd, bearing in mind only a quarter of those who signed the petition were based in Wales.”

Mr Gething said he will be giving written evidence to module four of the Covid inquiry but he was unsure whether he will be called to appear in person.

Committee members also closed a 443-name petition, submitted by Jasmin McNally, calling on the Welsh Government to scrap its “racist and ridiculous” anti-racist Wales plan.

Mr Gething pointed out that the plan was endorsed by all parties in the Senedd.

“The petitioner’s entitled to have a different point of view,” he said. “But we’re not going to change government policy or the view of the Senedd on this.

“I disagree in strong terms with the emotive and offensive language used by the petitioner but that’s what happens in a democracy.

“I don’t believe there is more action the committee can take. We simply have a disagreement of views and if she wants people who agree with her, the ballot box is the way to do it.”

During the meeting on January 20, Senedd members discussed a 271-signature petition, calling for meat-free Mondays in every school in Wales.

Manon Thompson, the teenage petitioner, wrote that meat-free Mondays – as adopted by Cardiff council – would reduce carbon footprints and save the lives of animals.

The committee thanked the young campaigner, agreeing to close the petition with Welsh ministers expected to hold a consultation on healthy eating in the spring.

Members also noted a letter from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), dashing petitioners’ hopes of S4C pulling together a bid for Wales to compete in Eurovision.

Bakel Walden, from the EBU, wrote: “As the BBC continues to participate, and remains the rights holder in the United Kingdom, this means an entry from the individual nations of the UK is therefore not possible at the Eurovision Song Contest.”